New Visitor Center Debuts in Downtown San Diego

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An April 30 grand opening is planned for a new waterfront San Diego Visitor Information Center, being operated by locally based Old Town Trolley Tours. The center is at 996 N. Harbor Drive in downtown San Diego.

Officials said the new center replaces a facility that operated on the Embarcadero for the past 30 years, overseen by the Port of San Diego and staffed by the San Diego Tourism Authority.

Company officials at Old Town Trolley Tours said the new center is located in an artistically designed building called South Pavilion near Broadway Pier, constructed as part of the port district’s recently completed first phase of improvements to the North Embarcadero.

The new center will operate seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. between June and October, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from November through May. The center will have a staffed desk and displays, and will distribute information for local activities, events, restaurants, hotels and transportation services.

Old Town Trolley was chosen by the port district as part of a competitive bidding process. According to port officials, Old Town Trolley will pay rent of $6,000 a month and a percentage of ticket sales to the port district.

Old Town Trolley Tours is part of Florida-based Historic Tours of America, which also operates SEAL sea and land tours in the local market. A soft opening for the local center was held April 27, with company and government leaders planning a public ceremonial opening for 11 a.m. April 30.